He’s the biggest draw in senior golf and the main reason the inaugural Shaw Charity Classic is destined to be a huge success.

Fred Couples, the laid-back Seattle native who strolls around golf courses looking like he’s off to clean someone’s yacht, agreed last month to saunter into Calgary for the Labour Day weekend tourney at Canyon Meadows.

And just like that, the first of a five-year commitment to host the PGA’s Champions Tour event was solidified.

“Absolutely, we got a bit of a ticket-boost the day he was announced,” said tourney director Sean Van Kesteren of the bump ol’ Boom Boom gave the event.

“It gives us instant credibility right away. For any inaugural event, it’s huge to get the biggest name of the tour. He’s one of the few guys even on the PGA Tour that move the needle and spur on ticket sales.”